JP2016223471A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector capable of facilitating maintenance and release of a connection state with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A connector 1 comprises a plug 20 and a socket 30. When the plug 20 and socket 30 relatively rotates on one end, and a projection 22 of the plug 20 is stored in a projection storage part 33 of the socket 30 and the plug 20 and socket 30 are in a connection state, a regulation part 23 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plug 20 so as to be movable in a radial direction contacts with a regulation surface 34d positioned on one end in the peripheral direction of a lock arm 34, which extends from the socket 30 toward the side where the plug 20 is inserted, and regulates relative rotation of the plug 20 and socket 30 to the other end side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a connecting device that is provided at an end of a cylindrical member such as a hose or pipe and connects the members.

  Conventionally, connecting devices for connecting cylindrical members such as hoses and pipes are known. This type of connecting device is constituted by a plug 200 and a socket 300 into which the plug 200 can be inserted, for example, like a connecting device 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the plug 200 includes a protrusion 202 that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical plug main body 201. As shown in FIG. 10, a guide groove 302 that guides the protrusion 202 of the plug 200 when the plug 200 is fitted is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the socket main body 301 of the socket 300 along the central axis. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the socket 300 is formed with a protrusion accommodating portion 303 that accommodates the protrusion 202 of the plug 200 adjacent to one side in the circumferential direction of the guide groove 302.

  In the connecting device configured as described above, the plug 200 is inserted into the socket 300 so as to guide the protrusion 202 along the guide groove 302, and the protrusion 202 is positioned at the end of the guide groove 302 as shown in FIG. 11A. Then, by rotating the plug 200 relative to the circumferential direction one side with respect to the socket 300, as shown in FIG. 11B, the protrusion 202 of the plug 200 enters the protrusion accommodating portion 303 of the socket 300 to be connected.

  However, in the coupling device having the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the plug 200 can be easily rotated with respect to the socket 300 in order to smoothly move the protrusion 202 of the plug 200 from the terminal end of the guide groove 302 to the protrusion accommodating portion 303. ing.

  For this reason, even when the protrusion 202 of the plug 200 enters the protrusion accommodating portion 303 of the socket 300 and is in a connected state, the plug 200 rotates carelessly when vibration or impact is applied from the outside. As a result, the protrusion 202 moves from the protrusion accommodating portion 303 to the guide groove 302, and the connected state is unintentionally released.

  In view of this, there is also known a mechanism in which a biasing mechanism using a spring member or the like is provided to maintain the connection state between the plug and the socket (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-195801

  However, the connecting device provided with an urging mechanism using a spring member or the like has a problem that the structure is complicated and the number of parts is large, so that not only the cost is high but also a failure is likely to occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device that can easily maintain and release a connected state with a simple structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, a connecting device of the present invention includes a plug having a cylindrical plug body portion and a socket having a cylindrical socket body portion into which the plug can be inserted. A projection that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the portion, and the socket is formed along the central axis on the inner peripheral surface of the socket body portion, and guide grooves that guide the projection when the plug is inserted, A projection receiving portion that is formed adjacent to one side in the circumferential direction of the guide groove and receives the projection, and when the projection is located at the end of the guide groove, the plug is placed on one side in the circumferential direction with respect to the socket. In the coupling device in which the projection is accommodated in the projection accommodating portion by being relatively rotated, the socket extends from the outer peripheral surface of the socket main body portion toward the side where the plug is inserted. Have a plug The plug body has a restricting portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plug body so as to be movable in the radial direction, and the restricting portion is positioned on one side in the circumferential direction of the extending portion when the protrusion is received in the protrusion receiving portion. The relative rotation between the plug and the socket is regulated by abutting against the regulating surface.

  In the connection device of the present invention, once the connection state is established, the plug restricting portion may be rotated around the extension portion of the socket even if the plug is rotated in the direction of releasing the connection state with respect to the socket (the other side in the circumferential direction). Since the relative rotation between the plug and the socket is restricted by coming into contact with the restriction surface located on one side in the direction, the connected state is not unintentionally released.

  In addition, the relative rotation between the plug and the socket can be restricted simply by shifting the restricting portion to a position where it does not contact the restricting surface of the extending portion (for example, pressing the restricting portion toward the central axis of the plug body). Since it is released, the connected state can be easily released.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily maintain and release the connected state without using a complicated mechanism having a large number of parts such as an urging mechanism using a spring member or the like.

  In the connecting mechanism of the present invention, the restricting portion is formed of an elastic member, and extends toward the other side in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the plug with a predetermined distance from the outer peripheral surface. When the projection is guided into the guide groove, the outer surface of the restricting portion is pressed against the inner surface of the extending portion, the restricting portion moves inward in the radial direction of the plug body portion, and the protrusion is projected. You may comprise so that when it accommodates in an accommodating part, the press to the control part by an extension part is cancelled | released, and a control part returns to the position which contact | abuts the control surface of an extension part.

  Further, in the present invention, the plug has a restriction release portion extending at a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the plug main body portion so as to overlap at least a part of the restriction portion, When the outer surface of the release portion is pressed, the inner surface of the restriction release portion presses the outer surface of the restriction portion, and the contact of the restriction portion with the restriction surface of the extension portion is released. Is preferred.

  If it has composition which has such a regulation release member, since it will become easy to move a regulation part, it will become possible to cancel a connection state still more easily.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the coupling device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a diagram obtained by rotating FIG. 1A by 90 ° counterclockwise around the central axis. It is a schematic diagram which shows the isolation | separation state of the connection apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 2A is a top view, FIG. 2B is a side view. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection process of the connection apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 3A is a top view, FIG. 3B is a side view. It is a schematic diagram which shows the connection state of the connection apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 4A is a top view, FIG. 4B is a side view. The top view which expands and shows the contact part of the control part and extension part of the coupling device of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 1st process of the connection cancellation | release process of the connection apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 6A is a top view, FIG. 6B is a side view. It is a schematic diagram which shows the 2nd process of the connection cancellation | release process of the coupling device of FIG. 1, FIG. 7A is a top view, FIG. 7B is a side view. The side view which shows the isolation | separation state of the plug and socket in the conventional coupling device. The bottom view of the plug in the conventional connection device. The top view of the socket of the prior art and this embodiment. FIG. 11A is a schematic view showing a connecting process between a plug and a socket in a conventional connecting device, FIG. 11A is a side view of a state in which the protrusion is guided in the guide groove, and FIG. 11B is a state in which the protrusion is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion. Side view.

  First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the whole structure of the coupling device 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the coupling device 1 includes a plug 20 and a socket 30 into which the plug 20 can be inserted. The plug 20 and the socket 30 are made of a synthetic resin material having elasticity and flexibility.

  The plug 20 includes a cylindrical plug body 21, a pair of protrusions 22 (one protrusion is not shown) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plug body 21, a restriction part 23, and a restriction release part 24. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the plug main body portion 21 is connected to the small diameter portion 21a inserted into the socket 30, the tapered portion 21b connected to the small diameter portion 21a, and the diameter of the plug main body portion 21 increases as the distance from the socket 30 increases. And a large-diameter portion 21c having an outer diameter larger than that of the tapered portion 21b. The outer diameter of the large diameter portion 21c is formed larger than the maximum outer diameter of the tapered portion 21b, and an annular end surface 21d is formed on the tapered portion 21b side of the large diameter portion 21c.

  The protrusion 22 is provided so as to protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion (the end portion on the side inserted into the socket 30 and the lower end portion in FIG. 2B) of the small diameter portion 21a of the plug main body portion 21. (See FIG. 1). The protrusion 22 has a shape that can be guided along a guide groove 32 to be described later, and has a shape that can be received in a protrusion receiving portion 33 provided so as to be adjacent to one circumferential side of the guide groove 32 (see FIG. 4).

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 22 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the small diameter portion 21a of the plug main body portion 21, but the protrusion in the present invention is located at a position corresponding to the guide groove and the protrusion accommodating portion of the socket. Since it should just be provided, you may provide in outer peripheral surfaces other than a front-end | tip part. For example, when the guide groove of the socket and the protrusion receiving portion are formed on the side where the plug is inserted from the formation position of the present embodiment, the protrusion is formed at the central portion of the small diameter portion or the tapered portion of the small diameter portion. You may provide in a near part.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the restricting portion 23 includes a first bending portion 23 a extending from the large diameter portion 21 c, an arm portion 23 b extending from the first bending portion 23 a along the outer peripheral surface of the plug main body portion 21, And an abutting protrusion 23d erected on the distal end surface 23c of the arm 23b.

  The first curved portion 23a extends from an annular end surface 21d (see FIG. 2B) on the tapered portion 21b side of the large diameter portion 21c so as to bend outward in the radial direction. The first bending portion 23a bends so as to bend when the arm portion 23b is pressed toward the central axis A side (hereinafter referred to as “inside”), and returns when the pressing is released. Therefore, the arm part 23b provided continuously with the first bending part 23a is movable in the radial direction.

  The arm part 23b is provided so as to extend from the first bending part 23a toward the other circumferential side. The arm part 23b has a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the taper part 21b, and moves toward the taper part 21b when pressed inward.

  The surface of the contact protrusion 23 d that is away from the central axis A (hereinafter referred to as “outer side”) is inclined so as to be away from the central axis A as the distance from the socket main body 31 increases. This inclination corresponds to the inclination of the inner surface of the contact portion 34a of the lock arm 34 described later.

  The restriction release portion 24 includes a second bending portion 24a extending from the large diameter portion 21c, a pressing portion 24b extending from the second bending portion 24a along the outer peripheral surface of the plug body portion 21, and an inner side of the pressing portion 24b. And a pressing protrusion 24c provided.

  The second bending portion 24a extends from the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 21c so as to curve outward in the radial direction. The second bending portion 24a bends so as to bend when the pressing portion 24b is pressed inward, and returns when the pressing is released. Therefore, the pressing portion 24b and the pressing protrusion 24c that are connected to the second bending portion 24a are movable in the radial direction.

  The pressing portion 24b and the pressing protrusion 24c are provided so as to overlap the arm portion 23b of the restricting portion 23 when viewed from the radial direction (see FIG. 2B). When the user presses the pressing portion 24b toward the inside, the arm portion 23b is pressed via the pressing protrusion 24c.

  The socket 30 includes a cylindrical socket main body 31 into which the plug main body 21 can be inserted, a pair of guide grooves 32 and a protrusion accommodating portion 33 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the socket main body 31, and the socket main body 31. It has a pair of lock arms 34 (extension part) extended in the outer peripheral surface.

  The guide groove 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the socket body 31 along the central axis A, and guides the protrusion 22 of the plug body 21 when the plug 20 is inserted into the socket 30.

  The protrusion accommodating portion 33 is formed adjacent to one side in the circumferential direction of the guide groove 32. That is, the direction in which the protrusion accommodating portion 33 is provided from the guide groove 32 is opposite to the direction in which the arm portion 23 b of the restricting portion 23 of the plug 20 extends.

  The lock arm 34 (extension portion) is connected to the contact portion 34a extending from the outer peripheral surface of the socket body portion 31, the bent portion 34b connected to the contact portion 34a, and the bent portion 34b. And an engagement release portion 34c.

  The contact portion 34a is formed in a plate shape, and is the side where the plug 20 is inserted from the end portion of the socket body portion 31 (the end portion on the side where the plug 20 is inserted and the upper end portion in FIG. 2B). It is extended to. The inner surface of the contact portion 34a is inclined so as to be away from the central axis A as the distance from the socket main body portion 31 is increased. This inclination corresponds to the inclination of the outer surface of the contact protrusion 23d. A surface on one side in the circumferential direction of the contact portion 34 a is a restriction surface 34 d that contacts the tip surface 23 c of the restriction portion 23 of the plug 20.

  By the way, relative in the circumferential direction between the abutting portion 34a of one lock arm 34 (the right lock arm 34 in FIG. 2A) of the lock arms 34 included in the socket 30 and the arm portion 23b of the regulating portion 23 of the plug 20. When the projection 22 of the plug 20 is guided by the guide groove 32 of the socket 30, the abutment portion 34a and the arm portion 23b are at least partially overlapped when viewed from the radial direction ( 2A and 2B).

  Therefore, when the plug 20 is inserted into the socket 30 so that the protrusion 22 is guided by the guide groove 32 (that is, when the plug 20 is inserted into the socket 30), the inner surface of the contact portion 34a is the arm portion. The abutting portion 34a presses the arm portion 23b toward the inside (see FIG. 3).

  Further, the overlapping length in the circumferential direction of the contact portion 34 a and the arm portion 23 b is a length corresponding to the end of the guide groove 32 of the socket 30 and the length in the circumferential direction of the projection accommodating portion 33.

  For this reason, when the projection 22 is guided to the end of the guide groove 32 and then the socket 30 and the plug 20 are rotated relative to each other to accommodate the projection 22 in the projection accommodating portion 33, the contact portion 34 a and the arm portion 23 b have a diameter. The position will not overlap when viewed from the direction. That is, when the plug 20 and the socket 30 are connected, the pressure on the arm portion 23b by the contact portion 34a is released.

  The disengagement portion 34c extends from the bent portion 34b toward the side opposite to the side where the plug 20 is inserted. An engagement claw 34e is provided on the distal end surface of the engagement release portion 34c. Since the disengagement part 34c is connected to the bent part 34b formed of a synthetic resin having elasticity and flexibility, when the user presses the disengagement part 34c, the disengagement part 34c and the tip thereof The engaging claw 34e provided in the part moves inward in the radial direction.

  The engagement release portion 34c and the engagement claw 34e are portions for engaging the socket 30 with an engaged member (not shown). For example, when the connecting device 1 of the present embodiment is used as a connecting device for a locking plug in a guide tube described in Table 2007/052474, a mouthpiece (engaged member) to which a socket portion of the locking plug is fitted. ) To be used when engaging the socket portion of the locking plug.

  Therefore, when it is not necessary to engage the coupling device 1 with the engaged member, the engagement release portion 34c, the engagement claw 34e provided on the tip surface thereof, and the engagement release portion 34c and the contact portion The bent part 34b connecting the 34a may be omitted.

  Next, with reference to FIGS. 2-5, the connection process of the connection apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, the plug 20 and the socket 30 in the separated state are brought closer along the central axis A so that the protrusion 22 of the plug 20 is guided by the guide groove 32 of the socket 30.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the plug body portion 21 of the plug 20 is inserted into the socket body portion 31 of the socket 30 so that the protrusion 22 of the plug 20 is guided to the terminal end of the guide groove 32 of the socket 30. .

  At this time, the inner surface of the contact portion 34a of the lock arm 34 of the socket 30 presses the outer surface of the arm portion 23b of the restricting portion 23 of the plug 20 (see FIG. 3A), and the arm portion 23b is radially inward. It will be in the state which moved to the taper part 21b of the plug main-body part 21 (refer FIG. 3B).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the plug 20 is rotated clockwise about the central axis A in FIG. 4 with respect to the socket 30 so that the protrusion 22 of the plug 20 is received in the protrusion receiving portion 33 of the socket 30. Rotate relative to direction. By this relative rotation, the connecting process between the plug 20 and the socket 30 is completed, and the plug 20 and the socket 30 are connected.

  At this time, the arm portion 23 b of the plug 20 also rotates relative to the contact portion 34 a of the lock arm 34 of the socket 30. After the relative rotation, the arm portion 23b is positioned so as not to overlap the contact portion 34a when viewed from the radial direction. That is, the pressure on the arm portion 23b by the contact portion 34a is released.

  Therefore, the arm part 23b moves so as to return to the radially outward position due to its elasticity. The movement of the arm portion 23b is restricted by the outer surface of the abutting protrusion 23d erected on the distal end surface 23c of the arm portion 23b abutting on the inner surface of the abutting portion 34a of the lock arm 34. (See FIG. 4B).

  As a result, in the connected state, the arm portion 23b has a restriction surface 34d (upper surface in the drawing of FIG. 4A) of the contact portion 34a and a distal end surface 23c (lower surface in the drawing) of the arm portion 23b. Will be in a position to contact.

  As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5, in the connected state, the distal end surface 23c of the arm portion 23b of the restricting portion 23 of the plug 20 and the restricting surface 34d of the abutting portion 34a of the lock arm 34 of the socket 30 (the drawing of FIG. 5). The upper surface is in contact with the upper surface, and the outer surface of the contact protrusion 23d erected on the tip surface 23c is in contact with the inner surface of the contact portion 34a.

  Therefore, even if the plug 20 and the socket 30 are relatively rotated in the direction in which the protrusion 22 of the plug 20 is moved from the protrusion accommodating portion 33 of the socket 30 to the guide groove 32 (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5), Since the relative rotation between the plug 20 and the socket 30 is restricted by the abutment of the abutting portion 34a with the distal end surface 23c and the abutting protrusion 23d, the connected state is not unintentionally released.

  Next, with reference to FIG.6 and FIG.7, the connection cancellation | release process of the connection apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressing portion 24 b of the restriction release portion 24 of the plug 20 is pressed. When the pressing portion 24b is pressed, the arm portion 23b is pressed through the pressing protrusion 24c provided on the inner surface of the pressing portion 24b, and moves inward in the radial direction.

  By this pressing operation, the contact between the tip surface 23c and the contact protrusion 23d and the contact portion 34a is released, and the plug 20 is rotated counterclockwise around the central axis A in FIG. It becomes possible to make relative rotation.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the plug 20 is rotated relative to the socket 30 until the protrusion 22 of the plug 20 is positioned at the terminal end of the guide groove 32 of the socket 30.

  At this time, the outer surface of the arm portion 23b of the restriction portion 23 of the plug 20 and the inner surface of the contact portion 34a of the lock arm 34 of the socket 30 are in contact with each other.

  Thereafter, the plug 20 and the socket 30 are separated from each other along the central axis A so that the projection 22 of the plug 20 is guided by the guide groove 32 of the socket 30 (the state shown in FIG. 2). .

  Although the illustrated embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a form.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the plug 20 and the socket 30 are formed of a synthetic resin material having elasticity and flexibility. However, in the coupling device of the present invention, since the restricting portion of the plug only needs to have elasticity, other portions may be formed of a material that does not have elasticity. For example, the plug body portion of the plug is formed of a material such as metal, and only the restricting portion (or a member provided with the restricting portion) is formed of a material such as elastic rubber or plastic, and the plugs are joined together. May be formed.

  In the above embodiment, the plug 20 includes the restriction release unit 24. However, since the restriction release part is a member for pressing the restriction part, the restriction release part may be omitted when the user can directly press the restriction part. Further, the shape of the restriction release portion may be such that the pressing protrusion is omitted or overlaps not all but a part of the restriction portion according to the shape of the restriction portion or other portions.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the control part 23 is set as the structure which has the 1st bending part 23a which has flexibility, and the arm part 23b connected with the 1st bending part 23a, and the arm part 23b is radial direction. It is configured to be movable. However, the restricting portion of the present invention does not necessarily have such a configuration, and at least a part of the restricting portion is movable in the radial direction so as to be able to contact the restricting surface of the extending portion of the socket. That's fine. For example, the arm portion may extend in the direction of the central axis of the plug, or the first bending portion may be omitted and the arm portion may be provided directly on the outer peripheral surface.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the lock arm 34 is made into the extension part in this invention. However, the extending portion of the present invention does not necessarily need to be a lock arm, and may be any extending from the outer peripheral surface of the socket toward the side where the plug is inserted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,10 ... Coupling device 20,200 ... Plug, 21,201 ... Plug main-body part, 21a ... Small diameter part, 21b ... Tapered part, 21c ... Large diameter part, 21d ... End surface, 22, 202 ... Projection, 23 ... Restriction Part 23a ... first bending part 23b ... arm part 23c ... tip surface 23d ... contact protrusion 24 ... regulation releasing part 24a ... second bending part 24b ... pressing part 24c ... pressing protrusion 30 , 300 ... Socket, 31, 301 ... Socket body part, 32, 302 ... Guide groove, 33, 303 ... Projection receiving part, 34 ... Lock arm (extension part), 34a ... Contact part, 34b ... Bending part, 34c ... disengagement part, 34d ... regulating surface, 34e ... engagement claw, A ... central axis.

Claims (3)

A plug having a cylindrical plug body, and a socket having a cylindrical socket body into which the plug can be freely inserted;
The plug has a protrusion protruding outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the plug body.
The socket is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the socket main body portion along a central axis, and guides the protrusion when the plug is inserted, and is formed adjacent to one circumferential side of the guide groove. And a protrusion accommodating portion for accommodating the protrusion,
When the projection is positioned at the end of the guide groove, the projection is accommodated in the projection accommodating portion to be connected by rotating the plug relative to the socket in one circumferential direction. In the device
The socket has an extending portion extending from the outer peripheral surface of the socket main body portion toward the side where the plug is inserted,
The plug has a restricting portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plug main body portion so as to be movable in a radial direction.
The restricting portion restricts relative rotation between the plug and the socket by abutting against a restricting surface located on one circumferential side of the extending portion when the protrusion is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion. A coupling device characterized by that. The connecting device according to claim 1,
The restricting portion is formed of an elastic member, and is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plug so as to extend toward the other side in the circumferential direction with a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface.
When the protrusion is guided by the guide groove, the outer surface of the restricting portion is pressed against the inner surface of the extending portion, and the restricting portion moves inward in the radial direction of the plug main body portion. ,
When the protrusion is accommodated in the protrusion accommodating portion, the pressing of the extending portion to the restricting portion is released, and the restricting portion returns to a position in contact with the restricting surface of the extending portion. A coupling device characterized by. The coupling device according to claim 1 or 2,
The plug has a restriction releasing portion that extends at a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the plug main body portion so as to overlap at least a part of the restricting portion,
When the outer surface of the restriction release portion is pressed, the inner surface of the restriction release portion presses the outer surface of the restriction portion, and the restriction portion of the extension portion to the restriction surface A connecting device, wherein the contact is released.